No. 157, January 2006

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A Life in the Blues Blues guitarist John Hammond keeps his music fresh by writing songs and covering contemporary songwriters like Tom Waits and Bob Dylan. But he still finds inspiration in the music he learned from blues legends like Blind Willie McTell and Son House. In this exclusive lesson, he illustrates some of his favorite slide licks, many of which were inspired by blues greats like Robert Johnson, Blind Willie Johnson, and Lightnin' Hopkins. By Julia Crowe.

Equipment Picks: The guitars and gear of John Hammond. What Kind of Classical Guitar Do You Need? There are many factors to consider when shopping for a classical guitar. By Ron Forbes-Roberts.

Big Ol' Goofy World After overnight success in the early '70s and writing enough classic songs to ensure membership in anyone's Songwriting Hall of Fame, John Prine spent much of the past decade recovering from cancer and raising his children. Last year's Fair and Square is the first CD of new songs he's recorded in ten years. He talks about waiting for inspiration to come, co-writing with friends, and finding melodies in the sounds of words and guitars. By Derk Richardson.

NEW GEAR 1Durango B-46 Slope-shoulder Dreadnought. An unbelievably great-sounding flattop with authentic vintage vibe and a price tag that'll make you flip. By Teja Gerken.Ovation C2078 LX Custom Elite Contour. A killer-looking modern ax that's perfectly at home on a loud stage but also sports tones to impress traditionalists. By Drew Pearce.Ultrasound CP-100 Amplifier. A rugged, feature-laden amp that brings active-pickup guitars to life with power, clarity, and definition. By Shawn Hammond.

SongcraftEliza Gilkyson. The Texas Music Hall of Fame folk-rocker channels inspiration from a Revolutionary War ancestor, the visceral passion of her songwriting father, and her own sense of social outrage into songs that balance the personal and the political. By Mike Thomas.Equipment Picks: The guitars and gear of Eliza Gilkyson.

RootsOld Blind Dogs. The veteran Scots band keeps its modern grooves authentic by following Robert Burns' 200-year-old model of applying original arrangements to traditional forms. By Danny Carnahan.Equipment Picks: The guitars and gear of Old Blind Dogs.

HERE'S HOWConquer Stage Fright. Is your fear of the bright lights keeping you from sharing your music with the world? Remember that people really aren't that scary, you can never be too prepared, and most importantly, it's not about you, it's about the music. By Stevie Coyle.

THE BASICSSustained-Note Chords. Create exciting new chords by simply holding onto a note or two when you change from one chord to another. By David Hodge.

SHOPTALKAll Strapped In. Confused about what kind of guitar strap to buy? Decide how you'll attach it to your guitar, try some out in the shop, and make sure nothing on the strap is likely to damage your instrument. By Frank Ford.

STAGE AND STUDIOAll About DI Boxes. If you're going to run your guitar into a PA, you need to know about DIs. By Teja Gerken.